Determination of sulphur content of hydrocarbons by bremsstrahlung absorption measurement

The paper discusses the usefulness of ßf-excited sources of electro-magnetic radiation (bremsstrahlung) in a radiation absorption measuring system, designed primarily to indicate continuously the sulphur content of refinery hydrocarbon streams. A conventional Geiger counter/ratemeter system is used to give simplicity of design and reliability of operation of the detector/indicator equipment. An accuracy of better than ± 0 02% weight sulphur over long periods has been obtained under refinery operating conditions. A second equipment, based on the same principle of operation, but designed for laboratory use on a wide range of base stocks, is also described, where sulphur determination is independent of density, and hydrogen/carbon ratio error effects are much reduced.